Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng believes Michael Laudrup’s side should be aiming for Europe this season.

Swansea City midfielder Ki Sung-Yueng believes Michael Laudrup’s side should be aiming for Europe this season.

The Swans’ stylish 2-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday moved them up to seventh in the Premier League, three points behind fifth-placed West Bromwich Albion in the Europa League qualification position.

They are also within one game – Championship club Middlesbrough at home on December 12 – from the Capital One Cup semi-final and the possibility of qualifying for the Europa League as winners of the League Cup.

Former Celtic midfielder Ki experienced both Champions League and Europa League action during his time at Celtic Park.

The South Korean lined up against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Udinese, and says there is no reason why Swansea shouldn’t set their sights on European football next season.

“If we get a chance, we want to play in Europe,” said the £5.5m summer signing.

“The Europa League would be a dream for us. Why can’t it happen?

“If we work very hard, and it’s something we’re trying to do, we can reach that target.

“Playing in the Champions League was a great experience for me.

“If you experience another type of competition you can compete with other good players.

“But it’s not done now, we need to win more games, get more confidence, and we’ll get better and better.”

Swansea’s weekend win at the Emirates was arguably their best victory since winning promotion to the top flight in 2011.

They excelled under Brendan Rodgers last season with 1-0 wins over Manchester City and Liverpool at the Liberty Stadium, but failed to beat any of the traditional ‘big’ clubs away from home.

After victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park last month, Ki says the win over Arsenal will give them confidence for the season ahead.

“It’s not easy to go to the Emirates and beat Arsenal,” said Ki, Swansea having not won in that part of North London for 30 years.

“We beat West Brom three days earlier and they were in good form, then we come and beat Arsenal.

“This has given us a lot of confidence and we are looking to push on more and more.

“It’s always a great experience to win against big teams. We played very well against Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.

“We didn’t get the result at Man City, but we got the result on Saturday.”

The Swans midfielder insists Laudrup’s squad won’t get carried away with their recent good form like they did earlier in the campaign.

After emphatic wins over Queens Park Rangers and West Ham at the start of the season the Swans went five games without a win, including a sequence of three straight defeats.

At the time Laudrup suggested complacency had crept into the squad because of all the positive coverage they had been receiving, but Ki insists they are focused on keeping their impressive run going.

“We have a very good squad and the way we try to play is working very well, so we just want to keep doing it,” he said.

“Sometimes we make mistakes with the passing, but we are getting better.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen because we have so many games left.

“If we lose three in a row we could slip down again.

“Every single game is very important for us, we have to win or at least draw.

“We need to get points, especially at home. All the players want to get stronger and become a better team.”

Ki has been in superb form since making the switch from Scotland in August, but is still waiting for his first Swans goal. He has had more shots than any other Premier League player without scoring, but is relaxed about breaking his duck.

“I play deeper than when I was at Celtic so it’s not easy to score,” he added.

“I don’t care if I score or not, some day it will come. As long as I help the team I’m happy.”

Swansea will resume hostilities with Arsenal next month in the FA Cup after Sunday’s third round FA Cup draw.

The tie has been chosen for live television broadcast by ESPN on Sunday, January 6 with a 1pm kick-off time.

The Gunners have lifted the FA Cup 10 times, four times in Arsene Wenger’s reign, but haven’t reached the final since 2005.

This will be the sides’ first meeting in the FA Cup since 1968, a tie Arsenal won 1-0 at the Vetch Field.

But Swansea won the last time the two sides met in South Wales, the Gunners beaten 3-2 at the Liberty Stadium in January.

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